Full Description
What makes a trip to a national park so wonderful? For starters, America's national park system is more diverse than any park system in the world. You can stroll the seashore at Olympic National Park in Washington or Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts, climb craggy mountains in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, or go underground into the world's largest cave system at Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. You can marvel at the largest canyon on Earth (Grand Canyon National Park), hike among the planet's largest collection or rock arches (Arches National Park), explore the lowest and hottest place in the Western Hemisphere (Death Valley National Park), or wander a realm of forests and misty mountains (Great Smoky Mountains National Park). And these are just a few of your park options. America's National Parks For Dummies gives you guidance to decide which park is for you, when to go, and what to see when you reach your destination.This guide will help you plan the best trip imaginable, whether you are An inexperienced traveler looking for guidance in determining whether to take a trip to a national park and how to plan for it An experienced traveler who has yet to explore the national park system and wants expert advice when you finally get a chance to enjoy one Any traveler who doesn't like big, thick travel guides that list every single hotel, restaurant, or attraction, but instead looks for a book that focuses on the places that will provide the best or most unique park experience America's National Parks For Dummies is user-friendly and organized in a logical fashion.Each park is broken down in a chapter that delves into the nitty-gritty of trip planning and highlights, including tips for Planning your trip by touching on the diversity of the park system, explaining some of your vacation options, and telling you when parks are the most (and least) crowded Ironing out the details by describing how you get to the parks and how to find your way around after you arrive Exploring America's national parks by giving you the lowdown on 15 of the best parks, detailing things like each park's wild kingdom, the best spots for memorable photographs, and a few safety issues The pages of this book resemble a great long-distance hike - you never know what's around the next bend in the trail. So throw on a backpack, take a swig of water, and get ready to explore the national parks!
Contents
Introduction. About This Book. Conventions Used in This Book. Foolish Assumptions. How This Book Is Organized. Part I: Getting Started. Part II: Ironing Out the Details. Part III: Exploring America's National Parks. Part IV: The Part of Tens. Icons Used in This Book. Where to Go From Here. Part I: Getting Started. Chapter 1: Discovering the National Parks. Chapter 2: Choosing a Park and Deciding When to Go. Chapter 3: Preparing Your Budget. Chapter 4: Planning Ahead for Special Travel Needs. Part II: Ironing Out the Details. Chapter 5: Getting to the Parks and Getting Around. Chapter 6: Booking Your Accommodations. Chapter 7: Managing Your Money. Chapter 8: Taking Care of the Remaining Details. Part III: Exploring America's National Parks. Chapter 9: Acadia National Park. Chapter 10: Arches National Park. Chapter 11: Cape Cod National Seashore. Chapter 12: Death Valley National Park. Chapter 13: Grand Canyon National Park. Chapter 14: Grand Teton National Park. Chapter 15: Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Chapter 16: Mammoth Cave National Park. Chapter 17: Mount Rainier National Park. Chapter 18: Olympic National Park. Chapter 19: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Chapter 20: Yellowstone National Park. Chapter 21: Yosemite National Park. Chapter 22: Zion National Park. Part IV: The Part of Tens. Chapter 23: Ten Incredible National Park Vistas. Chapter 24: Ten Reasons Why a National Park Is Better Than a Theme Park. Chapter 25: Ten Incredibly Cheap Ways to Enjoy a National Park. Appendix: Quick Concierge. Worksheets. Index.
